Indicator for lamp holders



Dec. 17, 1940. w. R. YOUNG arm.

INDICATOR FOR LAMP HOLDERS Filed Oct. 31, 1959 Fig 1.

. Inventors. William liYounQ. F'ranK D. Bryant, y )9 49 Their" Attorney.

Patented Dec. 1 7, 1940 a sr rss PATENT OFFICE moron-ma ron Lam HOLDERS William R. Young. Fairiield, and Frank D. Bryant, Stratford, Conn, assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 31, 1939, Serial No. 302,177 7 4 Claims. (or. 200-167) a particularly to indicators for use with lamp holders having pull switches.

It is an object of the invention to provide an I indicator so associated with a lamp holder having of the indicator attached to a lamp holder and pull switch; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the indicator; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the indicator operating mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 5-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a lamp holder it! provided with a pull switch operated by means of a cord or chain H to which an indicator i2 is attached at a point intermediate the length of the pull cord. Theindicator is provided with a window i3 forming a frame for indicia it reading on or ofi. The mechanism of the indicator is so arranged that a pull of the switch-operating cord will move the "on" and "ofi indicia alternately in front of the window it, in accordance with the operation of the switch mechanism of the lamp holder. A pull on the cord moves the indicator at the same time that the switch is loperated.v

The indicator comprises an outer cylindrical casing i5, together witha cylindrical core l6 disposed within the outercasing and spaced from the walls thereof to provide an inner chamber II.

One end of the inner core is formed with a flange i8 which mates with a corresponding flange l9 formed on a collar 20, these two elements being held in assembled relationship by the end of the casing l5 which is bent over and secured to the flanges by any'sultable fastening means, such as a solder or the like. The other end of the outer casing is secured to the inner core at the point 2| by any suitable fastening means, suchas solder,

or the like. This means that the inner core and" Thisinvention relates to indicators, andmore ably supported upon the core it by means of an annular ring 21 on the core, and a cooperative annular groove 28 on the sleeve. The ring 21 prevents the sleeve from being moved longitudinally on the core while, at the same time, permitting "5 free rotation of the sleeve.

As shown most clearly by Fig. 3, the outer periphery of the sleeve 26 is provided with the indicia I4 designating alternately "on" and fofi" 4 so that as the sleeve is rotated any one of the in- 10 dicia may be presented to the window l3 cut in the outer casing I5. Reciprocatory movementvof the D1111 rod 22 is translated into rotation of the sleeve 26 by'means of the cam elements 29 and 29' extending in reverse directions; respectively, from 15 the upper and lower edges of the sleeve. The

can surfaces 29 and 29' cooperate with the tangs 23 and 23, respectively, and are so arranged that a downward pull on-the pull rod rotates the sleeve through an angle of approximately 45 degrees, 20

while retraction of the rod likewise rotates the H will turn the indicating sleeve 26 through an angle of approximately 90 degrees. Retraction 5 of the pull rod is effected by means of a spring 30 disposed between the lower pin 23' and the bottom of the core it.

When the rod 22 is pulled downwardly the upper tang 23 engages the uppercam surface 29 and 30 moves the sleeve counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, through an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Inasmuch as the tang members are spaced apart a distance greater than that between the outer edges of the upper and lower cam members, 35 the lower tang member is moved out of the way of the lower cam surface prior to engagement of the upper cam surface and key permitting rotation of the'sleeve. Completion of this rotation presents the lower cam surface 29' for engage- 40 ment with the lower key 23' and as the rod is returned to normal position under the influence of the spring 30 the lower key engages the lower cam surface and moves the sleeve through a furv ther angle ofv 45 degrees. 'In this way the sleeve 45 26 is moved through a total angle of 90 degrees by a single pull on the rod through the action of the upper and lower cam surfaces. Since the indicia I4 are disposed at angles of approximately 90 degrees around the periphery of the sleeve, a single pull on the rod will move the indicia framed in the window from o to on, or vice versa, as the case may be. The lower end of the rod 22 is provided with a clip 3| for receiving one end of a portion of the pull cord or chain I I. while the uppenend oi the collar II is similarly conlight is turned on or "oil" by pullson the cord II, the indicator will likewise be moved to present 10 the corresponding indicia I 4 beiore the window It thereby indicating he Position of the switch in the lampholden. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable in those cases where thesupply oi current to thelamp holder may be cut of! II to avoid leaving the lamp turned on. Conversely, when the current is turned on the indicator will let it be'known whether or not the lamp is burned in oppositedirections, a pull rod mounted for out or dislocated in the socket, since it will be known whether or not the switch is in "on" posi- 20 tion. 'The indicator is made oi a compact form and of pleasing appearance. It may readily be incorporated in existing installations simply. by breaking the pull cord II and inserting the indicator in the length thereof 2B Whatweclaimasnewanddesiretosecure by Letters Patent 0! the United States, is:

1. In combination, a lamp holder provided with a switch operated by a pull cord and an indicator having relatively movable members connected in- 80 to the pull cord, said members being movable by pulls'on the cord, said indicator being provided with means operated by said relatively-movable members to indicate the "on and "oil" position of the switch.

2. lnadeviceoitheclassdescrimtwocoa'sial cylindrical members havinsaspaoetberebetween, an element rotatably mounted inthe space betweensaidmemberaandhavingindicia'tbereon. awindowinsaidoutermembercooperating with l saidindicigatmllrodslidablymountedwithin the inner member and being provided with spaced projecting keys. and -a cam on said rotatable element having reversed cam suriaces cooperating with said keys whereby slidable reciprocation oi 10 said rod rotates saidindicating member.

8. Ina device otthe class described. a having awindow in-the wall thereof, a hollow cylindrical memberwithinsaid casing.arotatahle sleeve surrounding said member and having inis dicia adaptedtobeftramedinsaidwindomsaid sleevebeingprovidedwithcamsurtacesextending reciprocating movement within said cylindrical 1 member and: having spaced keys extending 20 through slots in the member for enga ing said cam suriaoesnandspringmeana biasing one oi said keys into ensasement'with a corresponding cam surface.

4. In combination,an electric device controlled by a switch operatedbya pullcord and an indicator. having relatively movable members connected into the pull cord, said members being movable by pullson the cord, said indicatorgaeing provided with means: operated by said relativelymovable members to indicate the relative positions of the switch. 1

WILLIAM R. YOUNG. FRANK D. BRYANT. 

